Marshall Public Library
🏢 Illinois Heartland Library System · Marshall, Illinois
Marshall Public Library
Rooted in Clark County since 1916, Marshall Public Library guards one of Illinois' deepest small-town archives — local newspapers back to 1849 and more than 350 oral-history recordings — while serving its neighbors with modern digital resources from a beautifully renovated downtown storefront.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 612 Archer Avenue, Marshall, IL 62441
Phone: (217) 826-2535
Website: marshallillibrary.com
Plus Code: 86FJ98R3+8M (Marshall, IL)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Marshall Public Library
Marshall Public Library has served the heart of Clark County since 1916, when the Walter Burdick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution championed its founding. After occupying a series of downtown locations, the library settled into its current home on Archer Avenue — a beautifully renovated late-nineteenth-century storefront steps from the Clark County courthouse. A $235,000 renovation, funded in part by a $100,000 bequest from Marshall native and author Edwin "Sonny" Daly and a $35,000 Illinois State Library Live and Learn grant, transformed the space with an ADA-accessible vestibule, a modern computer lab, a teen area, and collaborative workspaces. The library is a member of the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), sharing a Polaris catalog that enables borrowing across central and southern Illinois. In 2026 the library marks its 110th anniversary alongside America's 250th, cementing its role as Clark County's enduring community anchor.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Digitized Clark County newspapers from 1849 to the present, searchable online at marshall.advantage-preservation.com
- 350+ oral-history audio recordings (with transcripts) of WWII veterans and community elders, hosted on YouTube and Illinois Digital Archives
- Original Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (1892 and 1912) and Marshall High School yearbooks from 1910 for genealogy research
- Free homebound delivery to residences, Marshall Rehab, Robert Flowers Village, and Villas of Hollybrook
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library book-gifting program — expanded in 2025 to serve all children under 5 in Clark County
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Marshall cardholders can research and read free through Illinois statewide databases and the Heartland consortium:
📚 Services
- Public internet computers and iPads
- Wireless printing from personal devices
- Scanning and CD-writing station
- Photocopying, faxing, and typewriter access
- Free notary public (Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, photo ID required)
- Homebound delivery to residences and care facilities
- Meeting room with kitchen and AV equipment
- Seed library
- Talking Book Program referrals for print-disabled patrons
- FamilySearch affiliate branch (genealogy support)
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program (all ages)
- Preschool Story Times
- Craft and maker programs
- Computer literacy classes
- Tax assistance (seasonal VITA partnership)
- Roots & Records Genealogy Club (ongoing)
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library (birth–age 5, Clark County-wide)
- Author visits
- America 250th / Library 110th anniversary exhibits and events (2026)
📍 Nearby Illinois Libraries
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Marshall Public Library's genealogy collection unique for Clark County research?
The library holds microfilm of Clark County newspapers dating to 1849 — including papers pre-dating the Civil War — plus original Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from 1892 and 1912, Marshall High School yearbooks from 1910 onward, and more than 350 digitized oral-history interviews with area residents. As a FamilySearch affiliate branch, staff can also assist with FamilySearch records on-site, and Ancestry Library Edition is available on in-library computers.
How was the library's current building renovated, and who funded it?
A $235,000 renovation converted a late-19th-century downtown storefront into a fully accessible, modern facility. Funding came from $100,000 in library savings, a $35,000 Illinois State Library 'Live and Learn' construction grant, and a $100,000 bequest from Edwin 'Sonny' Daly, a Marshall native and author. The project added an ADA-compliant vestibule, an updated computer lab, a dedicated teen area, collaborative workspaces, and a new staff workroom.
Can I get a card if I live outside the City of Marshall?
Yes — residents throughout Clark County and beyond can register for a card, including a temporary online registration option. Cardholders access IRIS statewide databases, the Libby/OverDrive digital collection through the Illinois Heartland Library System, and all in-library services including the genealogy computers.
Can the library deliver materials if I cannot visit in person?
Yes. Marshall Public Library offers free homebound delivery for residents who are unable to visit due to illness, injury, or limited mobility. Staff deliver books, large-print editions, audiobooks, and other materials to homes as well as Marshall Rehab, Robert Flowers Village, and the Villas of Hollybrook. Call (217) 826-2535 to arrange delivery.
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